Electric apparatus



June 11, 1935.

R. E. PARK, JR

ELECTRIC APPARATUS Filed March 9, 1933 FIG.

FIG 2.

FIG 4. 4

FIG. 3

FIGH S INVENTOR E. PARK JR. R"YIWJM ATTORNEY Patented June 11, 1935STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC APPARATUS Application March 9, 1933,Serial No. 660,123

7 Claims.

The invention relates to electric apparatus and more particularly toelectric condensers of the foil type.

In the prior art it has been the practice in some instances inconnection with the manufacture of electric condensers of the foil typeto provide a single sheet metal clip in the shape of a U with the sidesof the U parallel to the condenser foil for impressing and gripping theprojecting ends of the foil and to which clip conducting wires could beattached by soldering or otherwise. This method becomes undesirable whena large number of foils is used as it results in a cumbersome unit andextreme care must be exercised both in applying the clip and insubsequent handling to avoid destroying the foils.

An object of the invention is to provide connector means applicable tocondensers oi any thickness or to a plurality of condensers whereby acompact unit is obtained.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment oi the invention hereinillustrated and described the projecting ends of the conducting orcharge receiving foils are electrically connected together and to asheet metal connector having a plurality of clips integral with a rigidterminal. The clips are of U-shape with the closed portions of the Ufacing each other and with the sides of the U substantially parallel tothe body portion of the connector. The body' portion'of the connector ispositioned adjacent and perpendicular to the foils in the condenserproper. The foils are divided into two approximately equal portions,brought around the ends of the body portions of the connector, insertedin the U-shape clips and the clips compressed to grip the conductingmembers for electrically connecting them together and to the connector.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing description when considered in connection withthe-accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of amica and foil condenser;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a pair of wound paper and foil condenserunits joined by means Fig. '7 is an elevational view, partially insection, of several wound paper and foil condenser units joined by meansof a one piece connector.

Referring to Fig. 1' the condenser shown has the usual series ofinsulating and conducting sheets. The insulation may be of any suitablematerial but mica sheets I0 have been found particularly satisfactory.The usual tin foil sheets II are interposed between and extend beyondthe mica sheets l0. Several conducting sheets H, which are shownslightly smaller than the tin foil sheets I I but which may be of thesame size as the sheets H, are preferably of a stronger metal such ascopper and are inserted at each end of the condenser stack. The stack ofsheets of insulation and conducting material is placed between twoclamping plates I5 and I6, which plates are held together by means ofbolts 20, 2| 22 and 23, which are preferably threaded into the clampingplate I6. Measurements are now made of the capacity of the condenser,which capacity is known approximately from the number of sheets of foilused, their area and their distance apart. It is general practice toemploy a number of foil sheets so that the capacity of the unit will beslightly larger than the desired capacity. The bolts 20 to 23 inclusive,are loosened and one or more of the'heavy foil sheets I? are pulled out,if the capacity is greater than that desired, and a second measurementtaken. This is repeated until the correct capacity value is obtained.

The connector 30 (Figs. 1' to 5 inclusive) has a body portion 3!, twoU-shaped clips 32 integral with the body portion, and an elongatedflexible terminal portion 33 integral with the body portion 3|. Theconnector is preferably made from a blank 40 (Fig. 6) so that the outeror terminal end 34 ofthe elongated portion 33 will have a greaterthickness than the connector body 3| and the clips 32. This ispreferably obtained by bending the portion 4| over to form a rigidterminal end 34 of double thickness, as shown in Figs. 3 to 5 inclusive.

The ends of the projecting foils H and I2 of the condenser shown in Fig.l are divided into two approximately equal portions which are broughtaround the back of the body portion of the connector 38 and inserted inthe U-shaped clips 32. The sides of the clips 32 are then preferablycompressed to firmly hold the conducting foils together and in contactwith the connector 30, and the clips are then pressed toward the micasheets ill to form a compact unit as shown in Fig. 1.

As the toils H and 12 are divided in two portions and are brought aroundthe back of the body portion of the connector, the foils cannot' bereadily bent back and forth as would be the case if a single connectoris employed, and the body portion of the connector 30 alfordsconsiderable protection to the individual foils H and I2. The unit shownin Fig. 1 may, if desired, be potted in a container with the reenforcedouter or terminal ends 34 of the connectors 30 projecting through thecontainer.

When desired all of the conducting sheets I] and i2 may be of aluminum,steel, nickel or other materials which have not been used to any extentin the prior art due to the difficulty encountered in soldering themtogether, and, as they Y are usually thicker than tin foil, thedifficulty encountered in attempting to employ a single clip toelectrically connect them together. The connectors can then be made ofthe same material as the conducting sheets to avoid any possibleelectrolytic action.

A multiple clip connector 50 such as shown in Figs. 2 and '7 can beemployed to connect together a number of wound paper condensers 5| ofthe type in which the foil 52 extends beyond the paper insulation 53.The units 5| thus assembled together may be potted in a singlecontainer.

The invention is also capable of other modifications and adaptations notspecifically referred to but which are included within the-scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A sheet metal electrical terminal having two clips integral therewithand each arranged in U shape with the closed portions of the U facingeach other for gripping two groups of conducting members to connect allof the conducting members together.

2. A sheet metallic connector having an elongated terminal portion and aplurality of clips integral therewith, each of said clips of U shape andarranged for gripping a group of conducting members to electricallyconnect them together, the free end of the elongated terminal portioncomprising two layers of the sheet metal to provide suflicientmechanical strengthat the end and to permit suflicient flexibilitybetween the free end and the clip portion.

members for electrically connecting them to-' gether, the closedportions of the U in each pair of clips facing each other.

4. In an electrical condenser, a plurality of clips.

layers of electrostatic charge receiving sheets, a plurality of layersof solid dielectric between the layers of charge receiving sheets, asheet metal connector having an elongated terminal portion and aplurality of clips integral therewith, each of the clips having a. Uform with the sides 'of the U extending substantially perpendicular tothe charge receiving sheets, the charge receiving sheets being impressedbetween the sides of the clips, the free end of the elongated terminalportion comprising two layers of" the sheet metal to provide suflicientmechanical strength at the end and to permit suflilcient flexibilitybetween the free end and the clip portion.

5. A sheet metal electrical connector having an elongated terminalportion and two clips integral therewith and each arranged in U shapewith the closed portions of the U facing each other for gripping twogroups of conducting members to connectall of the conducting memberstogether, the free end of the elongated terminal portion comprising twolayers of the sheet metal to provide sufficient mechanical strength atthe end and to permit sufficient flexibility between the free end andthe clip portion.

6. In an electrical condenser, a plurality of layers of electrostaticcharge receiving sheets, a plurality of layers of solid dielectricbetween the layers of charge receiving sheets, a sheet metal connectorhaving an elongated terminal portion and two clips integral therewith,each of the clips having a U form with the closed portions of the Ufacing each other and the sides of the U extending substantiallyperpendicular to the charge receiving sheets within the condenser, thecharge receiving sheets being brought out from the condenser around theends of the connector and impressed between the sides of the clips forelectrically connecting them together, the free end of the elongatedterminal portion comprising two layers of the sheet metal to providesuflicient mechanical strength at the end and. to permit suflicientflexibility between the free end and the clip portion.

'7. In an electrical condenser, a plurality of layers of electrostaticcharge receiving sheets, a plurality of layers of solid dielectricbetween the layers of charge receiving sheets, a sheet metal connectorhaving an elongated terminal portion and a, plurality of clips integraltherewith, each of the clips having a U form with the sides of the U-extending substantially perpendicular to the charge receiving sheets,the charge receiving sheets being impressed between the sides of theROBERT E. PARK, JR.

